Context and Author
Animal Farm is an allegory of which historical event?
The Russian Revolution (1917).
What happens in chapter 1? Hint: Think about Old Major and the importance of his appearance.
Old Major's speech: He tells animals that humans exploit them and calls for rebellion.
Who were the most intelligent animals?
The pigs.
Name a theme in the story.
Corruption, propaganda, betrayal of ideas, lack of education, ignorance, fear, violence, inequality, power...
Name of the author.
George Orwell.
Why did the animals rebel? What didn't Mr. Jones do?
Mr. Jones didn't feed the animals. He represents failure, cruelty, and incompetence of the old ruling class.
Name the two pigs who would do most of the speaking and debating, but almost always disagreed with each other.
Napoleon and Snowball.
Name one of the Seven Commandments.
Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are equal.
The book criticizes which political ideology?
Totalitarianism.
What happens during the Battle of Cowshed? What does it represent?
Animals defend the farm when Jones tries to return. It represents the Russian Civil War/foreign attempts to oppose revolution.
Which characters repeat the slogan "Four legs good, two legs bad" and why? What does it mean?
It was the sheep's slogan, and it was propaganda. It represented humans as dangerous.
What does the song "Beasts of England" represent?
Revolutionary song of hope; revolutionary idealism and collective identity.